Frumious wins Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) - Frumious took the lead from the gate and pulled away in the stretch for a resounding first stakes victory in the $150,000 Palos Verdes Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.

A 6-year-old gelding ridden by Antonio Castanon and trained by Jeff Bonde, Frumious stretched the lead to 2 1/2 lengths coming out of the turn and won by 5 3/4 lengths.

"I didn't expect to be on the lead so soon, and when I ended up there I just let my horse run,'' Castanon said.

Frumious was helped by the absence of Amazombie, the 2011 Eclipse Award sprinter who was scratched earlier in the day because of morning rain.

The winner ran six furlongs in 1:07.28 and paid $14.60, $7.20 and $4. Galientos was second throughout and returned $9 and $3.60. Mensa Heat paid $3 to show.

Frumious had never finished in the money in three previous stakes attempts and could have been claimed for $40,000 two races back. The California-bred son of Grindstone earned $90,000 for the victory, his third straight.

The connections of Frumious said he could be pointed to the $2 million Golden Shaheen in the United Arab Emirates on March 31.

Earlier in the $75,000 Megahertz Stakes, Chilean-bred mare Vamo a Galupiar beat Celestial Kitten by 3 1/4 lengths.

Trained by Neil Drysdale and ridden by Joe Talamo, Vamo a Galupiar ran a mile on turf in 1:45.95 and paid $25.20, $12.40 and $7.20. Celestial Kitten returned $6.60 and $4.20, and Pick and Pray paid $5.20 to show.